Dart target with indicator



p 6, 1950 T. c. METZGER 2,523,773

DART TARGET WITH INDICATOR Filed Oct. 16, 1946 a Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR THEODORE c. METZGER ATTO NEY.

Sept. 26, 1950 T. c. METZGER 2,523,773

DART TARGET WITH INDICATOR T H EODORE C. METZG ER INVENTO R.

Patented Sept. 26, 1950 DART TARGET WITH INDICATOR Theodore O. Metzger, Lorain, Ohio, assignor of one-half to L. Paul Wottring, Amherst, Ohio Application October 16, 1946, Serial No. 703,581 3 -Claims, (01.273-1022) The invention relates to improvements in games and particularly to a game of skill in which darts and targets are employed. An important part of the invention consists in improved means for indicating when a dart hits-a target.

The following description and the accompanying drawings present in detail certain means illustrating the invention, such means disclosing, however, only one of the various forms in which the principle of the invention may be embodied.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the game, the indicating mechanism formin part thereof being partially broken away;

' Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the game;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section, taken in the plane indicated by the line 3--3, Figure 1;

Figure l is a partial horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, taken in the plane indicated by the line l l, Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary rear elevation, upon an enlarged scale;

Figure '6 is a fragmentary vertical, section,

taken in the plane indicated by the line 66,

target, the view also showing in dot and dash 7 lines the several positions of certain parts of the game when the target is not engaged by a dart; and V Figure 7 is a wiring diagram.

Referring to the annexed drawings in which the respective parts are indicated by the same respective numbers in the several views, an insulating fibre board strengthened and trimmed by peripheral front angles I serves as a base or backing for the operating elements comprising the improved game. This board I is mounted in a substantially vertical position, such as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, when playing the game, and has secured to its rear face by bolts 3, Figure 2, a plurality of horizontal vertically-spaced steel angles 2, of which angles five are shown in the accompanying drawings for purposes of illustration. The angles 2 need not necessarily beor steel cylinders, Figure 5, which are longitudi nally internally-threaded at top and bottom and are secured by screws 8 which pass through the top leg of the angle 2 and engage the bottom threaded portions of the cylinders. For purposes of illustration, six such cylinders are shown mounted on each of the angles 2, of which five are indicated by the number 6 and one by the number 7, for a reason hereinafter fully described. Supported on the top of each series of cylinders E and I and secured by screws I0 and l l which engage the top threaded portions of the cylinders 6 and l are insulating strips 9. The central portions of the cylinders 6 and l are transversely reamed and mounted therein and secured by the screws 8 and I0 engaging the cylinders 6 is a steel shaft 12, one shaft for each series of cylinders 6 and I. Mounted on the shaft I2, intermediate each pair of cylinders, is a cylindrical brass rocker l3, Figure 6, having a reduced intermediate portion I3 and a still fur ther reduced terminal portion I3 The mounting of the rocker [3 on the shaft 12 is adjacent the inner end of theenlarged portion of the rocker,.and the reduced portion I3 thereof passes through an enlarged hole [4 formed in the base I, and the terminal portion 13 extends outwardly forwardly of the front face of the base I. The front terminal portion H of each of the rockers [3 has screw-threaded engagement with a back-, ing member l5 for a target, which member I5 is secured by screws [6 to the rear wood portion it of a composite target l'l whose front portion 19 is formed of a soft rubber-like material. To retain the rockers l3 in proper position on the shafts l2 cotters 20 are employed which engage the shafts l2 adjacently to and upon each side of the rockers '13.

Secured adjacent one end by screws 22 to the non-conducting strips 9 and extended rearwardly from said strips 9 over, parallel to, and in vertical alinement with each of the cylindrical rockers i3 is a contact plate 2|. Adjacently rearwardly of each screw 22 is a binding post 23 which passes through the contact plate 21 and engages the non-conducting strip 9. I The game is played by hurling darts 25 toward the board I in an attempt to engage one, or a certain one, of the targets l1. These targets ll may have values, as desired, or different values amongst themselves, for the purpose of building up by special skill a maximum score by the throw ing of a certain number of darts 25.

Indication of success in hitting a target H with a dart 25 is given by a lampv which is.

automatically lighted by the engagement of the dart with the target 11. This lighting of the lamp is occasioned by the closing of a light circuit through the weight of the dart 25. It has been stated that the cylindrical members l3 rock on the shafts l2. These rockers I3 are so relatively balanced upon the two sides of the axis of the shaft [2 that the weight and leverage of the cylinder 13 rearwardly of the axis of the shaft 12 are slightly in excess of those forwardly of the axis of the shaft l2 so that ordinarily the several elements occupy the position shown in dot and dash lines in Figure 6, the rocker l3 being held substantially horizontal by a stop 44 mounted in the front face of the frame I, which stop is engaged by the upper rear face of the wood por tion I8 of the target 11. However, when a dart 25 engages the target ll, the additional weight of the dart 25 swings the target I5 on its pivotal axis away from the stop and thus rocks the cylinder [3 into the position shown in full lines in Figure 6 so that it engages the contact plate 2|. The cylindrical rocker l3 thereby serves as a switch to close an electric circuit.

Referring particularly to Figure 7, main conductors 26 and 2! connect with a source of power (not shown), conductor 21 being connected to end cylinders l by binding posts ll, Figures 5 and 6, and conductor 26 being connected to lamps 30, by respective branch conductors. The two sides of the line for each lamp are connected or disconnected through the cylindrical rocker l3, which serves as a switch, and a branch conductor 24, one end of each of which is connected to a lamp 39 and the other end connected by the binding post 23 to the contact plate 2|. There is a lamp 30 for each of the targets l1 and each of the rocker switches l3 and its cooperating contact plate 2!, so that each individual lamp 311 is individually controlled by the effect of the weight of a dart 25 upon a certain one of the targets l1.

Referring to Figures 5, 6, and 7, a complete electric circuit, when a dart 25 pierces and remains attached to a target I1, includes the conductor 2?, binding post H, cylinder 1, shaft I2, rear target extension [3, contact plate 2|, binding post 23, conductor 24, lamp 3!], and conductor 26.

In addition, one or more of the targets, the central one H as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, is associated with a chime 35, Figure 7, by reason of the lamp 339 which is controlled by said target I1 being connected in multiple by a branch conductor 3| including a coil 32 therein actuating a solenoid 33. The solenoid 33 is adapted to actuate a clapper 34 which impinges upon the chime 35. The action is rather that of a chime than a bell since the clapper 34 is held in engagement with the chime 35 after the initial impingement thereof until the associated light 33 goes out due to the removal of the dart 2 5 from the target [1 and the consequent rocking of the switch 53 out Of contact with the plate 2|.

The lamps 39 are mounted in customary lamp housings 30 provided with front caps 39 having glass face portions. All of these lamp housings 39 are mounted in a frame 36 which is of angular tin box formation having peripheral flanges 31 secured to the rear face of the baseboard I by screws 38. A glass front 39 for all of the lamps 39 is slidably positioned in or removed from the front of the baseboard l by removing one of certain peripheral trim members 40, Figures 1 and 4, which trim member 40 are TLO angular formation secured to the front face of the baseboard I by means of screws 41 for retaining the glass front 39, as clearly appears in Figgure 4. A formation, similar to an egg crate is provided between the base of the tin box 36 and. the inside face of the glass front 39 to provide separate compartments within which the lamps 30 are contained, said formation comprising spaced criss-cross members 42 and 43.

The invention lends itself to the use of not only darts but also all other missiles which will engage and cling to the targets, such as arrows.

What I claim is:

1. A game comprising a main substantially vertical insulating support, a horizontal conductive shaft mounted thereon in parallel relation thereto, conductive mountings for the shaft and in circuit therewith, a target pivotally mounted on the shaft and formed with a conductive switch end portion in circuit with and extended from the shaft on the side of the latter opposite to the face of the target, the two target portions upon opposite sides of the pivotal axis being unbalanced with the switch end portion of the target tending to move the target face toward the support, a stop secured to the support, the stop limiting the movement of the target face toward the support to a substantially vertical position with the conductive switch end portion of the target in substantially horizontal position, the unbalanced relation being such as to permit the target to swing on the pivotal axis away from the stop when the weight of a missile is added to the target face, a contact plate mounted on the support and extended adjacent said switch end portion of the target to be contacted by the latter when the target swings on its pivotal axis under the weight of a missile, a conductor electrically connected to the shaft mountings, a second conductor electrically connected to the contact plate, and a sensible signal in the circuit which includes the first conductor, the mountings, the shaft, the conductive switch end portion of the target, the contact plate, the signal, and the second conductor.

2. A game comprising a main substantially vertical insulating support, an angle secured thereto and extended thereacross, a series of spaced metallic mountings secured to the angle, a horizontal conductive shaft extended through and supported by said mountings in parallel relation to the support, the shaft being in electrical contact with the mountings, a conductor secured by a binding post to one of said mountings, a plurality of contact plates secured to the mountings and insulated therefrom, a plurality of targets pivotally mounted on the shaft and each formed with a conductive switch end portion in circuit with and extended from the shaft on the side of the latter opposite to the face of the target, the conductive switch end portions of the respective targets being disposed adjacent to but out of contact with the respective contact plates in the normal condition of the respective targets with no missile supported thereby, the two target portions upon opposite sides of the pivotal axis being unbalanced with the switch end portion of the target tending to move the target face toward the support, a stop secured to the support, the stop limiting the movement of the target face toward the support to a substantially vertical position with the conductive switch end of the target in substantially horizontal position, the unbalanced relation being such as to permit the target to swing on thepivotal axis away from the stop when the weight of a missile is added to the target face and cause the conductive switch end portion to contact the contact plate, a second conductor having branches electrically connected to the respective contact plates, and a sensible signal in each of said branch conductors.

3. A game comprising a main substantially vertical insulating support, a series of vertically spaced angles secured thereto and extended thereacross, a series of spaced metallic mountings secured to each angle, a horizontal conductive shaft extended through and supported by each series of mountings, said shafts being mounted in parallel relation to the main support, a conductor having branches secured to the end mountings of the respective series of mountings,

insulating support plates secured to the respective series of mountings, a plurality of contact plates, one for each mounting, secured to each of the respective insulating support plates, a plurality of targets pivotally mounted on each. shaft and each formed with a conductive switch end portion in circuit with and extended from the shaft on the side of the latter opposite to the face of the target, the two target portions upon opposite sides of the pivotal axis being unbalanced with the switch end portion of the target tending to move the target face toward the support, a stop for the target secured to the support, the stop limiting the movement of the target face toward the support to a substantially vertical position with the conductive switch end portion of the target in substantially horizontal position adjacent to but out of contact with the contact plate, the unbalanced relation being such as to permit the target to swing on the pivotal axis away from the stop when the weight of a missile is added to the target face and effect the contact of the conductive switch end portion with the contact plate, a second, conductor having branches for each of the series of targets, branch conductors from the aforementioned second conductor branches for the respective targets of each series electrically connected to the respective contact plates, and a sensible. signal in each of said last-mentioned branch conductors.

THEODORE C. METZGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 815,117 Peters Mar. 13, 1906 1,089,798 Smith Mar. 10, 1914 1,123,051 Whitman Dec. 29, 1914 1,581,069 Knopf Apr. 13, 1926 1,819,247 Kinnard Mar. 14, 1930 1,824,811 Gade Sept. 29, 1931 2,168,644 Browning Aug. 8, 1939 

